Shawn Dwyer DeGraffenreid

Wasilla resident, Ms. Shawn Dwyer DeGraffenreid, 58, died Dec. 16 at the Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

A celebration of Shawn’s life will be held at 4 p.m., today at the Church on the Rock, 3571 W. Machen Drive in Wasilla. Pastor David Pepper will officiate. A reception will immediately follow the service at the church. Additional services will be held at 10 a.m., Jan. 16 at the Lake Lotawana Community United Methodist Church in Lake Lotawana, Mo.

Shawn was born Feb. 28, 1951 to William Fortune and Sacha Sharp (McGibbon) Dwyer in Kansas City, Mo. Shawn grew up at Lake Lotawana and was accomplished at swimming, sailing and water-skiing. She attended Kansas University and Kansas City Art Institute; she also assisted with teaching children’s art classes at the Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery in Kansas City.

She lived a colorful life, not always following the path of others. Shawn was a Christian; you could not be in her presence for long without realizing her deep love for the Lord. Shawn was married to Marty DeGraffenreid who was the father of her three loving children for 24 years. Shawn and Marty moved to Alaska in 1992. Marty’s passing in 2001 left a void that could never be filled.

Shawn loved helping others whenever she was able and always had encouraging words to share. Friends were drawn to Shawn’s child-like spirit and joyful presence. She will be missed greatly by her children, family and friends.

Shawn is survived by her sons, Daniel and his wife, Stefanie DeGraffenreid, Bart and his wife Tawnee DeGraffenreid, daughter Sacha and her husband, Marty Yates; grandson Luke DeGraffenreid; father, William and his wife, Maryann Dwyer; mother, Sacha McGibbon; brothers, William and his wife, Alisha Dwyer, Patrick and his wife, Patricia Dwyer and Timothy and his wife, Roslyn Dwyer; and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by the Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.